Russia developing plans for full substitution of defense imports from Ukraine

Ukraine’s newly elected president Petro Poroshenko said on banning cooperation with Russia in the military sphere

MOSCOW, June 17, /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s Industry and Trade Ministry came up with a plan for a full substitution of defense imports from Ukraine June 17, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on his page in Facebook Tuesday.

He said this in response to a statement by Ukraine’s newly elected president Petro Poroshenko on banning cooperation with Russia in the military sphere.

“It’s too late,” Rogozin remarked on Poroshenko’s decision. “June 10, the Ministry of Industry and Trade submitted a plan to the Defense Manufacturing Commission for a full substitution of defense imports from Ukraine.”

“The plan is a result of scrupulous work done by specialists,” he said. “The document shows where, what, for how much, and in what amounts should be done or produced and who is in charge.”

Poroshenko said Monday at a session of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council he had imposed a ban on cooperation with Russia in the field of defense manufacturing. The news was reported later by acting interim deputy prime minister Vitaly Yarema in the Freedoms Speaks show on the ICTV channel.

“As of today, we’ve practically stopped any cooperation with the Russian Federation in the field of defense manufacturing,” Yarema said.

He recalled that the previous interim president of the country, Alexander Turchinov, had signed a decree on canceling cooperation with Russia in supplies of weaponry and defense systems.

“Permission was issued to continue cooperation only in dual technologies, for instance, helicopter engines that can be used for defense and civilian purposes likewise,” Yarema said.